I Clivi Galea Rosso is made from 70-year-old, endangered merlot vines. Yes, endangered. For nearly a decade, winegrower Ferdinando Zanusso has jokingly threatened to uproot his four acres of merlot. And he is neither kidding nor laughing about their low yield.

I Clivi only made 100 cases of Galea Rosso in 2012. Ferdinando’s frustration over his merlot’s no-yielding production somehow turns into a sort of hidden pride, yet he doesn’t bother to conceal his preference for the impeccable, single varietal, whites he makes from local friulano, malvasia, ribolla gialla, and verduzzo grapes.

Colli Orientali del Friuli is reputed for its white wines; its soils have been likened to Burgundy’s Côte D’Or which is high praise for any growing region. Based on this fact it makes sense that i Clivi should give most of their attention to their white wines. And while most producers rush their reds to market when their wines’ astringency makes one wince, no such urgency has ever occurred to Ferdinando. He only releases Galea Rosso once he deems that it has hit its stride, when it can give pleasure to its drinker.

Perhaps there’s something to be said for seeking out the lone red of a great white wine producer such as i Clivi. Given their trained apathy towards red wine, it means they only bother to produce Galea Rosso in good vintages and they still inevitably age each bottle in their winery–rather than requiring you to age it in your cellar!

Ferdinando admits, “It would be difficult to find a wine of this quality (at this price) from Bordeaux’s right bank, merlot’s native territory.” He nods, “È un signor vino.” Drink a bottle or two and you’ll find his words difficult to dispute. Look for an intricate, balanced palate that is redolent of black cherries, tobacco, leather, and spice. Pair with roasted or braised meats, salumi, Robiola Roccaverano, and pecorino (preferably Sardinian) aged 4-8 months.

*Note: This wine starts to sing about an hour or two after uncorking and holds up even a day or two after opening.

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About Us

Giannoni Selections is a wine importing company based in Massachusetts and Italy. We source, import, and distribute the highest quality organic/biodynamic wines to restaurants and retailers in Massachusetts. Our pursuit of top, non-interventionist wine began over a decade ago through extensive tasting, travel, and internship.